Unfinished Projects

[hurt138]

What do you think causes some of us to constantly almost finish a model before starting the next one?

A lot of times for me its that I am very unhappy with the results and decide to move on before investing more time into it. But with my last build I am still happy with it. I just got it in my head that I wanted to build a cessna 170 kit.

[ADW 123]

i would say that is accurate. it seems like you just dont want to deal with it, and you want to start over with a clean slate. i feel like every model builder must exersise their ability to continue working on a model even though it isnt going well. in that case, its time to take a break from it. i took a 3 week break from the Wright Flyer when i got frusturated with it, and i came back to it and finished it.

[Arlo DiPasquale]

I definitely agree that it is easy to burn out when working on a model, or get overzealous to finish it and wreck it. The latter happened with a B-24 I built a few years ago, it looked horrible and I never had the will to go back and fix it, so it sits under my bed collecting dust...

[cliffm]

I, too,suffer from this malady. I just hung my p-38 from the ceiling after having to literally force myself to finish the decals and touch up the paint here and there. I started this model sometime around x-mas and was bound and determined not to rush and make everything as nice as I possibly could. This thing fought me every time I went for the glue it seems. All things considered it did'nt come out as bad as I was thinking it did after I've walked away from it awhile and take a fresh look at it. The old saying goes that "you are your own worst critic" and with me it proves very true. When I find my camera I'll get some pics posted. This kit has to be the hardest Guillow's kit for me, the plastic in it is a real challenge. So much for all the whining, if you hang in there and keep plugging away things usually come together with satisfactory results. But there are those times when I think a Zippo would bring a smile of satisfaction as well. Later.

[Szyp]

And I thought it was just me.....

[Szyp]

The goal I am working towards by building less difficult models is the Dauntless, a kit I started 50 years ago and never finished because it was too hard for me at the time. However, I am resolved to close that loop in my life once I sharpen my skills.

[hurt138]

I really should try and get the last one done before the cold weather comes and I can't paint it.

[Szyp]

Curiosity has gotten the best of me- what influence would cold weather have on your painting- are you using dope and cannot go outside?

[hurt138]

I am up north and work in a insulated, but unheated garage. It tends to get pretty cold in the winter out here. I spend way less time in the garage during the winter months.

[ADW 123]

i wouldnt let no cold slow me down.

i think my mom wouldnt let me just because she would be worried about me getting sick

[hurt138]

It gets hard to work when you have a snow suit on.

[jace314]

Im surely in the same boat as having un-finished business! Im working on my first sheeted, and scale FW-190 (500 series) and have 2 other planes started and in different stages hanging out on the sideline. Just cant help! When I want a new plane I go and grab it, then curiousity kicks in, so I start it.

[ADW 123]

thats why i dont keep too many kits in the shop. i usually like to have 1 project at a time. the temptation of having another kit that can be started is too great. now i have the projects lineing up... gunna have to test myself here

[cliffm]

While building the PBY I found my enthusiasm starting to wane and while going through a couple of search engines looking for paint schemes,I ran across some of the operational logs of the guys using this old workhorse in the south pacific during WW2. Some of these records give you an insight into the plane and it's crews that bolsters your ambitions and enthusiasm to a new level of creativity that puts some new energy into the build. All of the old warbirds have a half dozen or more books authored by pilots and crewmembers relating to the service of these aircraft and make for some great reading and information about the craft you are replicating. Later.

[Szyp]

I was born in 1946 and am point man on the baby boom. All my elders served, and I was fascinated by their stories. I fell in love with the aircraft of that era. One of my friends found a used book store, and we raided it to buy up all the back copies of Flying magazine from 1941-1946. The color photos of the planes still resound in my mind, and that got me into model building. My mother threw all the magazine out when I went to college, and as we all have experienced, struck me a reason to cry. Boy, do I wish I had the now.